KELLY, HE FINALLY RECEIVED WHAT HE EARNED SO MANY YEARS AGO. ADAM SEXTON JOINS US NOW WITH THIS SOLDIER STORY. IT TOOK 44 YEARS, BUT SANCHEZ FINALLY HAS THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL THAT PROVIDES OFFICIAL RECOGNITION OF THE WOUNDS HE SUFFERED ON BEHALF OF HIS COUNTRY IN VIETNAM. IN 1969, THE ARMY PRIVATE FIRST CLASS SANCHEZ AND HIS UNIT CAME UNDER ASSAULT. WE GOT HIT . HE WAS WOUNDED BUT STILL RICHEST HIS LIFE TO HELP A FELLOW SOLDIER. WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION, HE REFUSED TO BE EVACUATED FROM THE BATTLE. IT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE DID. WE PAY A LOT OF PRICE, A LOT OF DEBT, BUT WE TOOK CARE OF A WE HAD TO. FOR HIS ACTIONS, THE ARMY AWARDED SANCHEZ THE BRONZE STAR, AND THE WRITE UP FOR THAT MEDDLING KNOWLEDGE TEA WAS WOUNDED IN ACTION. FOR SOME REASON, A PURPLE HEART NEVER CAME. SENATOR KELLY AYOTTE HELPED PUSH THE PENTAGON TO FINALLY AND OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZE HIS WOUNDS. THIS IS SOMEONE WHO WENT BACK INTO BATTLE AFTER BEING INJURED TO HELP FELLOW SOLDIERS. HE IS A TRUE HERO. I AM HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY FOR HIM. MOST WILL FAMILY MEMBERS WERE ON HAND FOR THE AWARD CEREMONY, INCLUDING HIS GRANDSONS.